Question : Farm Mechanization

(a) whether the Government has chosen large scale farm mechanization as a tool to fulfill its promise of helping farmers to double their agricultural income by 2022;

(b) whether the Government is having any proposal to substitute human labour on farms with machinery to save agricultural costs and to boost the production;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government is having any agencies to rent the farm machineries to
the farmers at a concessional rate;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government is having any proposal to grant soft loans with a reduced interest rate for purchase of farm machineries to the farmers and if so, the details thereof;

(g) whether the Government has set up any committee to look into the same;

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)
(a) to (e): Improved agricultural implements and machinery are essential inputs for modern agriculture. It enhances productivity besides reducing human drudgery and cost of cultivation. It also helps in improving utilization efficiency of other inputs.
Taking into consideration the above, to boost the farm mechanization in the country, a dedicated scheme “Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)” has been introduced by Government. Under the scheme subsidy is provided to the extent of 40-50% for States other than NER States and for NER States it is 100% limited to Rs.1.25 lakhs per beneficiary for purchase of various types of Agricultural implements and machinery used for tillage, sowing, planting, harvesting, reaping, threshing, plant protection, inter cultivation and residue management, etc.
The Government of India do not have agency to rent the farm machineries to the farmers at a concessional rate. However, to make available costly and bigger advanced farm machinery at the door steps of the farmers on rent basis, Government is promoting Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) through a SMAM scheme; under which subsidy is provided @ of 40% to individual farmer upto a project cost of Rs.60 lakh for establishment of CHC and 80% to the group of farmers upto a project cost of Rs.10 lakh for establishment of Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs). A special consideration of 95% subsidy for the group of farmers of North Eastern Region (NER) is available upto a project cost of Rs. 10 lakh for establishment of FMBs. For establishment of Hi-tech hubs, assistance @ of 40% upto a project cost of Rs.250 lakh to rural youth, farmer as an entrepreneur, farmer groups, societies, etc. is provided.
The Government has also developed and launched Multi lingual Mobile App “FARMS- Farm Machinery Solutions” which helps the farmers for getting rented farm machinery and implements through Custom Hiring Service Centers (CHC) in their area. (f): The Government implements the Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS) under which interest subvention is provided on short term agri loans which includes crop Husbandry, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries. The loan is provided upto Rs.3 lakh for a period of one year which is made available to farmers at subvented interest rate of 7% per annum and in case of timely repayment, the same gets reduced to 4% per annum.
(g): No
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